The Top 6 Best Places to See Wildlife in Arizona

Arizona is one of the most beautiful states in the country. It has a little bit of everything including mountains, rivers, lush forests, and more. Arizona is also home to multiple national parks and monuments like Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. You can only begin to imagine just how many animals live in Arizona. The state is home to about 144 mammals and over 570 bird species. But where can you find them? Follow along to discover the 6 best places to see wildlife in Arizona. Although we are only listing six, there are plenty more!

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge

Starting our list of the best places to see wildlife in Arizona is the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. This large wildlife refuge protects over 6,000 acres of land. It’s in La Paz and Mohave Counties. There is so much to do and see at the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors can hike, kayak, bird watch, and walk along the stunning river. So, what kind of animals can you see here? Within this wildlife refuge are southwestern willow flycatchers, Colorado River toads, mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, Yuma rails, and ringtails. The refuge is free to visit. You can start your adventure at the visitor center by reading the many interpretive signs and displays. 

Bearizona Wildlife Park

Another excellent place to view wildlife in Arizona is the Bearizona Wildlife Park in Williams, Arizona. This unique driving experience takes visitors through more than three miles of Ponderosa Pine Forest. You can see animals like black bears, rocky mountain bighorn sheep, American bison, mule deer, and more. This park also has a walking area where you may see grizzly bears, barnyard animals, red foxes, elk, and beavers. While hours may vary, the Bearizona Wildlife Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Red Rock State Park

Red Rock State Park is also an excellent place to view wildlife in Arizona. This very popular state park has a surface area of 286 acres. It’s a gorgeous park with a lot to see. Within the state park is a five mile trail system, perfect for enjoying the stunning views in the park. Although you can hike the trails and look for wildlife alone, the state park also offers guided walks. One of these walks is the daily guided nature hike. The daily nature hike begins at 10 a.m. from October through July and 9 a.m. from June through September. Red Rock State Park also offers guided bird-watching tours. During these tours, you may see wood ducks, mourning doves, bridled titmice, house finches, and white-crowned sparrows.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is well worth a visit. This recreation area is massive, covering over 1 million acres in both Arizona and Utah. There is a lot to do and see here. You’ll need way more than a day. With how large this area is, it isn’t surprising to know that there are hundreds of animals to see! Some wildlife in the area includes black-tailed jackrabbits, Ord’s kangaroo rats, big brown bats, bluegills, Colorado pikeminnows, and desert spiny lizards.

Echo Canyon Recreation Area

Fifth on our list of the 6 best places to see wildlife in Arizona is Echo Canyon Recreation Area. This recreation area is a popular hiking spot. Expect to spend at least a full day exploring Echo Canyon. A popular trail within this area reaches Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon Trail. It’s labeled as hard and runs for 2.6 miles. The trail results in a 1,522 elevation gain. The best time to hike this challenging trail is from October to May. This hike is a popular spot to see birds. While on the trail, hikers may see Gambel’s quails, Anna’s hummingbirds, American coots, and greater roadrunners. This trail is also an excellent place to see plants like ocotillo, Engelmann’s hedgehog cacti, Graham’s fishhook cacti, and desert marigolds.

Kaibab National Forest

Last but not least is the Kaibab National Forest, which borders both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon. The surface area of Kaibab National Forest is 1.6 million acres, although it’s divided into three sections.

This stunning forest is peaceful. It’s easier to ask what you can’t do than list the activities allowed at this national forest. While visiting, you can hike, camp, scenic drive, and more. On your hike, you may see whitetail deer, wild turkeys, chipmunks, lizards, and more.

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